Naggar Castle : Dil bole Jab We Met
Hello all,
What do you remember about the places you visited in childhood? From family gatherings or family vacations? An exciting school trip or a summer holiday? I was lucky, as my parents made sure that we traveled regularly once a year. We have tons of memories from our travels. The photographs are lost because of the flood in Surat, but frankly speaking, we don’t even need them. Our minds have imprinted some invaluable treasures from those days, and nobody can erase them.
When I go down memory lane and open Pandora on our Manali trip before when I was 14 years old, I get images of the beautiful bouncy Beas River, my first river crossing, and a view of the Beas River from the Naggar castle. I forgot the name of the castle all these years, but what I remember is that there was one palace in Manali, and the river looked amazing from there!
So, to revive all these memories, we went to Naggar Castle on our last trip to Manali.
Naggar castle is the jewel of Naggar town. Nagar town is a perfect gateway from Manali with its historic vibes and cute cafés. The town is located on the eastern bank of the River Beas.
History of the castle:
The castle is the main attraction in the town. Naggar Castle was built by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu in 1460 AD. It is a beautiful combination of British and Himachali art with the influence of both cultures. After the Anglo Sikh wars, the king of Kullu Gyan Singh had exchanged a castle with a British general Major Hay, for a rfile. After that, the British general made some modifications, and the staircases, chimneys, and fireplaces were added.
You will be amazed by the wooden carvings and craftsmanship. No metal or mail was used. Only wood and stones were used with the Kathkhooni technique. The castle remained solid from the 15th century and also withstood the nasty 1905 earthquake. The walls are made up of an alternate layer of wooden beams and proportionate stone.
Nagvar Castle is known for its stunning views. The evergreen Kullu valley, with its bouncing Beas river and panoramic view of the mountains, is a sight to behold! It is so captivating that you might not want to get up from that balcony.
At present, there is a restaurant on the first floor with an amazing balcony facing the river. Accommodations are also available under State tourism, as the castle has been taken over by Himachal Pradesh Tourism District Corporation and converted into a heritage hotel. There is a small, serene temple within the castle premises, which has a stone called “Jagtipatt.” Some believe that the stone was brought by honey bees all the way from Vashisht.
There is also a small museum in the fort’s basement. It contains a few artefacts and sculptures depicting the Himachali lifestyle.
Do you remember the song ‘Ye ishq haye’ from Jab We Met? It was shot here, and it is not the only one. This is the director’s favorite location for a Pahadi movie.
Entrance fees: 50 rupees per person.
Open Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, all days of the week
Attractions near the castle:
Tripura Sundari:
It has been built in pagoda-style architecture with three roofs, which is a mesmerizing temple and a must-visit.
Nicholas Roerich Museum, Gardens, and Art Gallery
This was the home of the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich, and it has been restored into a gallery displaying his and his son’s (Svetoslav Roerich) artwork.
So if you love old historic sites and great views, do visit this place, while you are in Manali..
Thank you and wish you all a very happy new year!!
So beautiful. Traditional kathakuni architecture is so amazing
Thank you…
Superb, and awesome
Thank you uncle..🙏🏼
Wow fantastic
Thank you…
Nice
Thank you..
Wow manali !
Only problem is getting to manali from delhi or any part but once u reach there its all goosebumps
kajal i must say u r becoming a NERD on travelling
Yes that is so so true! Getting there is main issue. But it is heaven! Thank you so much..
Life is Travel
need to learn from You guys !
keep on inspiring
Thank you so much sir…
Fantabulous
Thank you..
Awesome
visited manali so many times but was not aware of this gem
It is in Naggar village near Manali. But it is really beautiful…
Wow such a beautiful place!. ur blogs are really inspiring. Want to leave our jobs and boring lives and become a full time traveller.
Thank you so much! Really, we all wish that… 🤗🤗